CARSON, Calif. - On Thursday, Cal State East Bay men's basketball took played the first of two straight CCAA games in Southern California. The Pioneers defeated a nationally-ranked team on the road for the third time this season, with a 75-65 victory over No. 18 Cal State Dominguez Hills. 
 

GAME SUMMARY

The Pioneers started the game on a 21-8 run capped by a Daeshawn Eaton 3-pointer with 9:45 left in the half. The Pioneers built their largest lead to 14, at 36-22, on a Chris James layup with 3:18 left in the half. Ultimately, CSUEB led 38-28 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Pioneers would hold the Toros at arms' length. The Toros came within nine points, trailing 52-43, on an Andre Ball layup with 12:45 left. The Pioneers would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at eighteen, at 67-49, on a Payden White layup with 6:24 left. CSUDH was able to close the deficit to as little as eight points, with less than a minute left, at 73-65, but the Pioneers made two free throws in the final minute, and despite four more opportunites to score in the final minute for CSUDH, the Pioneers made defensive stops and finished with a 75-65 win. 
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Dimitrios Klonaras scored 19 points, a team-high for the Pioneers, going 8-for-14 from the floor and making one free throw. With 17 rebounds, Klonaras had his fifth double-double of the season. His 17 rebounds was the most for him as a Pioneer. 
• Also reaching double figures in scoring for CSUEB were Tyree Campbell and Grady Lewis with 13 points each and Payden White with 10. 
• With two blocks and a steal each were White and Kevin Ebiriekwe. 
• Jeremy Dent-Smith scored a game high 22 points for the Toros.
• Thursday's win for the Pioneers was their third road win against a nationally-ranked opponent this season. On November 11, they defeated then No. 11 Point Loma, 61-57 and on December 7, won at then No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino, 74-71. 
• Cal State East Bay sits alone in fifth place in the CCAA standings, two games ahead of SF State, who is in sixth place through Thursday's action. The teams who finish in the top six in the standings qualify for the CCAA Tournament. Six games remain on the regular season schedule. 

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 14-8, 10-6 CCAA
No. 18 Cal State Dominguez Hills: 18-4, 13-3 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The final road game of the 2023-24 regular season for the Pioneers takes place this coming Saturday with a matchup at (RV) Cal State LA. Tipoff from University Gym in Los Angeles is set for 3 p.m. On January 11, the Pioneers defeated the Golden Eagles, 80-76.